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Treating vitamin B12 deficiency is one of my favorite conditions to treat because I consider it an easy win for many people. Simply taking B12 is enough to fix the problem and may help you feel better very quickly.
But before we talk about treatment we need to discuss vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.
You can find a list of symptoms associated with low B12 levels below:
#1. Fatigue/weakness - Probably the most common symptom.
#2. Weight gain - Unexplained weight gain may be due to low B12.
#3. Brain fog - The inability to focus or concentrate.
#4. Depression - Depression AND anxiety can be associated with B12 deficiency.
#5. Numbness/tingling - Usually a sign of more advanced deficiency.
#6. Tongue changes - Including tongue lesions.
#7. Constipation
#8. Heart palpitations
#9. (Forgot to discuss in the video) HAIR LOSS - I can't believe I forgot this one but yes low B12 levels can lead to hair loss.
#10. (Forgot to discuss in the video) ANEMIA - Also, I forgot to mention that low B12 can lead to a specific type of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) which is rare but does happen.
How to TEST for B12 deficiency:
There are several ways to test for Vitamin b12 deficiency but not all of the tests are great.
The list includes:
Serum B12 levels - Serum B12 is the worst way to test for B12 deficiency and is often very inaccurate.
Methylmalonic acid - Methylmalonic acid is better than serum B12 but is often not ordered by doctors.
MCV - MCV is a measure of the SIZE of your red blood cells. A high MCV can indicate you have B12 deficiency.
Homocysteine - Homocysteine will increase with low B12 levels.
If you decide that you have both the symptoms of B12 deficiency AND abnormal lab tests then you may want to consider supplementation.
The best supplements include:
- Methylcobalamin
- Hydroxycobalamin
- Adenosylcobalamin
These are PRE-METHYLATED and PRE-ACTIVATED forms of B12. You will want to use these over the cheaper version of B12 known as cyanocobalamin. The recommended formulations of B12 are safe to use if you have the MTHFR defect and can be readily used by the body without the need for activation.
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it.
If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-westin-childs-podcast-thyroid-weight-loss-hormones/id1141207688?mt=2
This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.
Treating vitamin B12 deficiency is one of my favorite conditions to treat because I consider it an easy win for many people. Simply taking B12 is enough to fix the problem and may help you feel better very quickly.
But before we talk about treatment we need to discuss vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.
You can find a list of symptoms associated with low B12 levels below:
#1. Fatigue/weakness - Probably the most common symptom.
#2. Weight gain - Unexplained weight gain may be due to low B12.
#3. Brain fog - The inability to focus or concentrate.
#4. Depression - Depression AND anxiety can be associated with B12 deficiency.
#5. Numbness/tingling - Usually a sign of more advanced deficiency.
#6. Tongue changes - Including tongue lesions.
#7. Constipation
#8. Heart palpitations
#9. (Forgot to discuss in the video) HAIR LOSS - I can't believe I forgot this one but yes low B12 levels can lead to hair loss.
#10. (Forgot to discuss in the video) ANEMIA - Also, I forgot to mention that low B12 can lead to a specific type of anemia (megaloblastic anemia) which is rare but does happen.
How to TEST for B12 deficiency:
There are several ways to test for Vitamin b12 deficiency but not all of the tests are great.
The list includes:
Serum B12 levels - Serum B12 is the worst way to test for B12 deficiency and is often very inaccurate.
Methylmalonic acid - Methylmalonic acid is better than serum B12 but is often not ordered by doctors.
MCV - MCV is a measure of the SIZE of your red blood cells. A high MCV can indicate you have B12 deficiency.
Homocysteine - Homocysteine will increase with low B12 levels.
If you decide that you have both the symptoms of B12 deficiency AND abnormal lab tests then you may want to consider supplementation.
The best supplements include:
- Methylcobalamin
- Hydroxycobalamin
- Adenosylcobalamin
These are PRE-METHYLATED and PRE-ACTIVATED forms of B12. You will want to use these over the cheaper version of B12 known as cyanocobalamin. The recommended formulations of B12 are safe to use if you have the MTHFR defect and can be readily used by the body without the need for activation.
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about thyroid disorders, weight loss, insulin resistance, estrogen/progesterone balance on my blog. I truly believe that hormone balance is the key to managing your weight, your mood and your quality of life which is why I'm so passionate about it.
If you enjoyed this video please subscribe on youtube or leave a comment on my podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-westin-childs-podcast-thyroid-weight-loss-hormones/id1141207688?mt=2
This video is not intended to be used as medical advice. If you have questions about your health please consult your physician or primary care provider. Dr. Westin Childs goes to great lengths to produce high-quality content but this is NOT a substitute for medical care.
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